The Fix for Route Six - Spring Update
Last week signified Day 100 for the Petition. For the nearly 2000 Petitioners who have taken the time to support this initiative, a sincere thank you from our small tight knit group of dedicated volunteers. The Petition is still alive on Change.Org for those who would like to sign on. It’s a perfect way to keep in touch as we move forward. On Monday, April 4, 2022 our MLA Adam Olsen graciously introduced me on behalf of the Patrons of Route 6 to the BC Legislature and shortly thereafter tabled our Petition. We owe Mr. Olsen a debt of gratitude for being so proactive and engaged on behalf of his Constituent's/Petitioner's on Salt Spring and North Sannich. He has been fully committed in raising the awareness of our Ferry Issues with Minister Rob Fleming - Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and BC Ferries CEO - Mark Collins. Adam, it’s sincerely appreciated by all.
Most have read the dire predictions for this Spring and Summer coming from the BC Ferries Press Releases being received on a regular basis.The interesting part on Route 6, sailing waits, delays and cancellations are nothing new over the last several years. Being underserved, especially during the Peak Demand Summer Season seems to have become the accepted norm. BCF has elected not to develop more car park containment areas over the last 45 years. Meanwhile our Community continues to grow with the need for more service, along with car park containment areas. Yes, the Vesuvius Terminal Upgrade has been approved for 2027 which provides 25 more car parks and don’t forget the Crofton Terminal Upgrade by 2030. Perhaps the change out of the MV Quinsam in 2035 at the end of its service life will come to pass as well. We simply haven't kept up with demand and now we have a Crisis. Route 6 is especially important because it transports our dangerous goods - petroleum products, propane, etc onto the Island. Along with a plethora of goods and services each and every day from the Big Island.
Where do we go from here. Basically our plea for improved service on both Route 4 & 6 is with Minister Rob Fleming - Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. There is an existing Agreement from 1992 between the Islands Trust and the Ministry of Transportation. The concept of BCF creating parking containment areas out of our roadways is not catered for in the Agreement. However, it has been a long standing practice that has never been formally contested by the Islands Trust. Our two Trustees have requested our Trust Chief Planner to engage the Ministry of Transportation on the merits and intent of the Agreement. It’s time and long overdue to either address our parking containment areas or ramp up ferry frequency or ideally a combination of both. Let’s put vehicles on the Ferries instead of creating traffic gridlock and one way gauntlets to our 2 Ferry Terminals as well as the Crofton Terminal. The Fix for Route Six does exactly that for Vesuvius Bay and the Crofton Ferry Terminals, frequency over car parks containment areas. The relief is immediate, we have the availability of both ferries currently. The logistical problem for BCF is finding adequate crew to man the second vessel. A tie up float for use when only one vessel is in use during low demand periods after 7:00 PM. This is the only infrastructure cost, if deemed necessary. The Fix for Route 6 is the most cost effective solution in the Inter Island Network and mitigates traffic gridlock at all 3 Ferry Terminals.
We are not alone in this situation, Hornby Island (Population 1225) has similar issues that have been brought forward in recent weeks to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Public Safety is at stake but as a Community with a significant Population of 11,700 we can’t seem to resolve it, while other Communities with the political will have. Example - Nanaimo to Gabriola Island (Population 4500) BCF Route 19 will introduce two New ECO Island Class Vessels at cost of $100 Million Dollars plus infrastructure costs this week. Ferry Service will run approximately every 35 minutes from each Terminal. The frequency of sailings will simply vacuum up vehicles from the car park containment areas and roadways by placing them on the New ECO Friendly Vessels.
Last June the Chair of the SSI - Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) tendered a Service Request to use the MV Quinitsa on Route 4 - Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay to provide extra sailings during June, July and August. The Patrons of Route 6 have cordially asked the FAC Chair and Committee to consider having BCF take those resources and use them on Route 6 for the same time frame this Summer creating an on the hour sailing at Vesuvius Bay & Crofton. Thereby taking the vehicles off our Roadways in Vesuvius/Crofton and putting them onto ferries. Some say it’s just a hunch that we will siphon off traffic at Fulford Hrb as Ferry Patrons begin to migrate to Route 6, if there is no compelling reason to use Route 4. We believe this to be case from the standpoint the data shows it's currently happening now. The bonus, we mitigate the traffic gridlock at Fulford Hrb. If we could migrate 20 vehicles every 2 hrs, that means 400’ less vehicle traffic lined up on the roadway to Fulford Hrb. Having the MV Quinitsa serving Route 6 mitigates ferry traffic at all 3 Terminals, not just Fulford Hrb.
In January BCF - VP of Public Engagement tried to quell the Petition in an advertisement in the Driftwood. He had very little success, Patrons simply didn’t buy into his flat line graph. Ferry Patrons on Route 4 & 6 are simply Fed Up with our service during peak demand hours at all 3 Terminals. Of the commitments made in January by BCF Management, one has been honoured assuming the MV Quinsam due to arrive on Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 shows up. This Vessel will effectively increase the vehicle capacity by 2 vehicles over the MV Bowen Queen used for the last 3 Summers. With no substantial changes, standby for another Summer of frustration, discontent from sailing waits and traffic gridlock on Route 6.
BC Ferries Management seems to have their fair share of issues these days, that too will pass. The idea of having $195 Million Dollars worth of New Vessels sitting idle for the Summer of 2022 will not sit well with the BC Government. Along with the Amendments to the "Coastal Ferries Act" contained in Bill 7, about to be passed and receive Royal Accent. Change is in the air at BC Ferries and their governance model. In the interim let’s keep the momentum going and campaign individually and as a group for improvements for our ferry service to and from Salt Spring Island at every opportunity. A website and social media app is planned in order to convey how our Ferry Service on Route 4 & 6 is impacting businesses, our livelihoods and personal travel this Spring and Summer.
Our New Spring 2022 Campaign Slogan -
"BCF✌️ Ferries for Route 6 - For a Peaceful Experience”
Best Regards, The Patrons of Route 6 (& 4) - 10 April 2022